Based on the address, I think 'Arista Hospitality' must be both the ballroom upstairs and the restaurant downstairs, both called ""Arista.""
The Arista Restaurant & Patio (downstairs) has enough atmosphere alone to give reason to check it out - it's bright red crystal chandeliers and modern art give it a funky Hawthorne vibe, not to mention it's patio full of flowers and old lanterns that makes it hard to remember you're on bustling Hawthorne.
And then the food is in a whole other league of its own: The chef has created an incredible grouping of dishes like Pesto Encrusted Grilled Chicken in a Tomato Vodka Cream Sauce with Crushed Root Vegetables, Penn Cove Mussels in Coconut Broth with Ouzo and Lemongrass, and Wild Coho Chowder with Sherry Cream. The Cippino is definitely a signature dish at Arista, perfectly merging fresh tiger prawns, mussels, clams, crab and swordfish with a smoky tomato clam broth.
The Arista has great small plates, too, and they're definitely NOT ""small!"" Creations like the Lamb Burger (a gyros turned into a burger!), Monte Cristo (insane is the only word to describe it) and the Grilled Pork and Apple Sandwich are familiar foods with a culinary flair. And I've never found a price that's so low for such an enjoyable meal ($5 for small plates!!!).
The staff is very knowledgeable and will happily tell you how signature dishes like the Muffuletta Sandwich were invented by a Sicilian immigrant in the French Quarter of New Orleans back in 1906.
There are usually food and drink specials and the menu changes often - I always look forward to what I will discover the next time I go. Definitely try this place out, I will be back again and again and again!
Pros: interesting menu, great design, very knowledgeable staff
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